I want to add the passengers station to a Durango & Silverton-like tourist service included in my HO layout. It's just a 2-8-0 and 3 old-style, wooden yellow coaches.

I'd appreciate any help or advice, thanks.Robert

There are a lot of things to consider, but if you can answer these questions, you can narrow things way down!

1) Is your railroad just a tourist railroad, or is it a freight railroad with tourist excursions?2) Is your railroad part of--or once part of--a prototype railroad that had specific architectural standards? Case in point: If your railroad was, say, a former AT&SF branchline, any AT&SF standard depot (for which there are several kits available) would be perfect and help tell the story.3) If your railroad is completely freelanced and independent, where does it run? Architecture of New England is very different than, say, California or Arizona.4) When was your railroad established? Would it have been during the Victorian or Edwardian eras? Later?5) Is this depot the original depot, or was it replaced at some point? Case in point: The Salida, Colorado depot was originaly very ornate and gingerbread...after a fire it was replaced with an Art Deco style depot.

If you can establish the story, the depot style will follow suit. And establishing the story is half the fun!

Trains are D&RGW, the landscape (background pictures and diorama) resembles the Southwest.

Diesel locos are FT, F7, GP9 and SW1000. And of course the heritage steam engine.

The Rico Station looks similar to a previous idea I had in mind. The difference is the tracks will be located behind the station, I mean, looking at the layout, the station comes first and then the tracks, that's the reason why I don't want the structure to be too big because it will hide the train.

Trains are D&RGW, the landscape (background pictures and diorama) resembles the Southwest.

Diesel locos are FT, F7, GP9 and SW1000. And of course the heritage steam engine.

The Rico Station looks similar to a previous idea I had in mind. The difference is the tracks will be located behind the station, I mean, looking at the layout, the station comes first and then the tracks, that's the reason why I don't want the structure to be too big because it will hide the train.

I hope this may narrow the search.

Thanks!

Well, yes, the Rico depot is probably perfect for you then. And while the prototype for Rico is from the Rio Grande Southern, the RGS followed D&RG(W) architecture closely. The D&RGW Lake City depot was almost identical to the Rico depot.

FWIW, that kit is instantly recognizable because it's used so frequently. It's also decent-sized (although still compressed from the prototype). I would highly recommend:

1) Considering shortening the freight section if you need it to be smaller.2) Considering changing up some of the eaves and gables to make it more unique with after-market details.3) Doing something about the molded shingle roof that looks more like slates interspersed with cobblestones.

My task was to make mine look like the real RGS Rico depot in the 40s, which meant removing the tower, changing the trim to RGS trim, shingling the second story and roof, simulating replaced shingles from a fire that happened in 1936 (and killed the agent's wife) and adding other details:

Might I also add that in a tourist operation the former features of the station are used differently. Now it's typical for the waiting room to be a museum or gift shop, the snack bar might open to the platform. The small luggage/freight side might be an employee lounge, rr storage etc. A larger station might have the waiting room turned into a fancy restaurant. Be sure to include signage for all of the above including well marked bathrooms. About the only thing that seems to stay the same is the ticket window. Any luggage carts or speeders might have little decorative fences around them to keep the kids from climbing on the what are now exhibits.

The Rico Station looks similar to a previous idea I had in mind. The difference is the tracks will be located behind the station, I mean, looking at the layout, the station comes first and then the tracks, that's the reason why I don't want the structure to be too big because it will hide the train.I hope this may narrow the search.